AdaptiveMobile: Over Half of UK Parents Plagued by Lack of Smartphone
Control

LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Parents have limited power over their children’s smartphone usage, with
55% believing they have the least control over mobiles, compared to
gaming devices and laptops, according to AdaptiveMobile
research. With 65% concerned that their children are unprotected from
mobile threats including cyberbullying, sexting and viewing
inappropriate content, this lack of control indicates a huge headache
for parents.

AdaptiveMobile’s fifth Global
Security Insights in Mobile (GSIM) report, reveals that parents
don’t have as much control as they’d like over the content their
children are seeing (51%), the information they are revealing (52%) and
who they are interacting with (51%), highlighting a clear challenge in
balancing the benefits of mobile phones with the risks.

Gareth Maclachlan, COO and Co-Founder at AdaptiveMobile says: “Parents
being unable to monitor their children’s mobile phone use is a real
issue for them. They want the peace-of-mind brought by giving phones to
their children, but are fearful over the consequences of cyberbullying,
unsolicited contact from strangers, and access to inappropriate content.
Concern over these threats and specifically child safety and wellbeing
is actually causing a quarter of parents not to give their children
mobile phones; a real shame when you consider what a great tool for
advancement and development they can be.”

Who’s responsible?

Parents are trying to educate their children on the threats associated
with smartphones, with 69% having discussed cyberbullying and 32% the
dangers of sexting, indicating a desire to encourage sensible behaviour
when using mobiles. Whilst most (89%) parents feel it is their duty to
protect their children when using smartphones, over a quarter (26%)
believe their operator should also be responsible, with greater
accountability than ISPs, schools, the government and handset
manufacturers.

Andy Phippen, Professor of Social Responsibility in IT at Plymouth
University comments: “What is clear is parents are aware of safety
issues with mobile technology yet are unsure what to do. Key issues such
as lack of knowledge and constantly evolving technology are the sorts of
things parents face in this modern world. It is encouraging to see many
are engaged in dialogue with their children on these issues, it is the
combination of education and technological solutions that will help to
protect children."

Gaining control

Although 53% of parents are aware of products
to monitor and control mobile usage and 95% would like to use some
form of control on their children’s smartphones, only 13% of parents are
actually using them. This highlights a worrying trend that the tools
available to protect against mobile threats are clearly not up to the
job.

Gareth Maclachlan, COO and Co-Founder at AdaptiveMobile concludes:
“Parents want flexible controls - they don’t want to put a blanket ban
on mobile usage or ignore the risks and almost two thirds (68%) want
controls they can adapt as their children mature. Giving parents the
flexibility to manage the services available on their children’s
handsets from their own phone is one way that parents can start to gain
more control and reassurance over their children’s mobile usage.”

-ends-

Notes to editors:

AdaptiveMobile’s Fifth Global Security Insights in Mobile report
surveyed 3065 parents (1007 in the UK), with children aged between 8 –
15 years old, and was carried out in June 2012. The online survey was
carried out by independent research agency Loudhouse.

About AdaptiveMobile:

AdaptiveMobile is the world leader in mobile security, enabling trusted
networks for the world’s largest operator groups and protecting one in
six subscribers globally. AdaptiveMobile provides Operators with the
most comprehensive network-based security solutions enabling them to
protect their consumer and enterprise customers against the growing
threat of mobile abuse. www.adaptivemobile.com
/ @AdaptiveMobile /#GSIMV